John Lewis may have been the leading name in the roll call of winners at last week's Verdict Customer Satisfaction Awards, but the Verdict poll of 5,900 consumers also revealed the winning retailers within individual sectors. Verdict's analysts give their insight into why these retailers stood out to their customers.

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Sun European Partners has acquired Dreams for GBP35m in a pre-pack administration deal, with plans to keep 171 of its 264 stores. This deal marks the end of what has been a very turbulent period for the retailer and gives it a platform from which to drive sales growth again.

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The premium sector of the UK department store market will account for 42.9% of total expenditure in 2017, equating to an additional GBP975m in the next five years, according to the Verdict report Department Store Retailing in the UK. This is being fueled by midmarket players moving towards more luxury products.

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The homewares sector can be difficult for a newcomer to break into. Price competition from specialists and non-specialists alike can prove to be a barrier to entry for smaller brands. However, the development of flash sale sites, in tandem with a recovery in consumer spending, will create communities of devoted shoppers, seeking out the best new unique product they can find.

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Pre-pack administrations have come under scrutiny for siphoning away selected assets and dumping debt in secretive deals. The process is open to abuse, but the unpalatable truth is that in a stuttering economy no other option protects jobs and keeps businesses open to the same extent.

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Specialist Dunelm Mill has leapfrogged John Lewis to the top of the homewares market, although both have registered a strong performance in 2012. Verdict estimates Dunelm Mill will have secured a 6.9% share of the GBP10.7bn market this year, with John Lewis expected to sit just behind at 6.8%.

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The aspirational furniture retailer Dwell is set to open its 23rd outlet at the Lakeside Retail Park. This opening will continue its recent expansion program, which has led to seven new stores opening since January 2011. With this expansion and its affordable, contemporary offer, Dwell has been one of the better performing retailers in a challenging market.

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2011 was a challenging year for retail, particularly for those in home-related sectors. A stagnant housing market prevented many first-time buyers from getting on the property ladder, and homeowners were reluctant to sell in a buyer's market.

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Homebase has ramped up its social media strategy in a bid to drive sales amid tough market conditions; however, Verdict believes that its strategy is actually a step backward from its earlier innovations. While social media can be used to drive sales, the retailer's decision not to integrate its social media activities into its transactional website is a missed opportunity.

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US homeware retailer Crate & Barrel has partnered with Shopkick, a US smartphone app which incentivizes users to visit stores through discounts and a redeemable online currency known as "Kick" credits. By driving store footfall, the app complements Crate & Barrel's existing social media operations on Facebook and Twitter which promote products and address customer complaints and enquiries.